More than 300 mourners have paid their respects at the funeral of a 40-year-old barber who was described as a 6ft 2in 'gentle giant'.

Danny Knight's coffin was this afternoon carried into Carmountside Crematorium to the tune of The Chain by Fleetwood Mac because of his love of motor racing.

The 'talented' barber worked at a number of barber shops in Stoke-on-Trent, including at HQ Barbershop, in Longton. He was working at Stay Sharp Barbers, in Blurton, when he suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed last month before losing his fight for life two days later at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Mourners were asked by Danny's family to wear a baseball cap because, despite being a barber, he was never keen on doing his own hair and always wore a cap.

Mourners attending Danny Knight's funeral

Floral tributes accompanying the coffin included a baseball cap with Danny's initials DFK, a can of Tyskie beer, and a pair of scissors and a barbers pole - matching Danny's own tattoos.

Celebrant Ian Lewsey told the congregation a number of anecdotes about Danny's life, including one occasion when he shaved his head as part of a bet for 10 cigarettes.

Speaking on behalf of the family he also thanked people for their support.

Floral tributes at Danny Knight's funeral at Carmountside Crematorium

He said: "We would like to thank the hospital's critical care unit for everything their staff did while he was in their care and Avtar Singh, the owner of Stay Sharp Barbers, for his support and fundraising.

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"We are collecting money for the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity and we have a collection box."

Danny, from Blurton, had been cutting hair since he was 14.

His mum and dad Arlene and Fred Knight, fiancé Emma Holdham, and brother Kev Knight have all had tattoos of a swallow on their hands with the initials DFK, in memory of Danny, who also had the same tattoo.

Barber Daniel Knight with grandson Reg Rushton

As they left the service Arlene, Fred and Emma each laid a rose on Danny's coffin and so did his one-year-old grandson 'Big Reg' who also waved goodbye.

Following the service, 46-year-old Kev, from Normacot, said: "It was fantastic, he couldn't have had a better send-off. I'm just overwhelmed and humbled by the amount of people who've turned up, he's just made us all proud. It is the sending off I hope we all have."